Tri State
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MacFawn takes spotlight, title from Wilson
Allegany junior’s 1,600-meter win puts the Camper center stage
By Kevin Spradlin
TriStateRunnur.com
CUMBERLAND, Md., May 30 - No one could have predicted the anticipated fallout a day or so after Ian MacFawn won the Maryland Class 1A 1,600-meter state championship.
Allegany junior’s 1,600-meter win puts the Camper center stage
By Kevin Spradlin
TriStateRunnur.com
CUMBERLAND, Md., May 30 - No one could have predicted the anticipated fallout a day or so after Ian MacFawn won the Maryland Class 1A 1,600-meter state championship.
The Allegany High School junior edged Pikesville senior Blake Stein for the win on Saturday at the state high school track and field championship meet at Morgan State University in Baltimore. MacFawn also prevented Smithsburg senior and pre-race favorite David Wilson, who on Thursday had won the 3,200 in a Class 1A record time, from sweeping the distance events.
MacFawn won in 4 minutes, 19.93 seconds. Stein was second in 4:21.42 and Wilson slipped to third in 4:21.52. Smithsburg teammate Joey Barvir was fourth in 4:27.97.
On MacFawn’s Facebook page, friends and fellow students of the blue-and-white clad Camper were hoping to take advantage of MacFawn’s victory.
One friend hoped to get out of an upcoming trigonometry test. Another wanted to know MacFawn’s secret. And yet another credited MacFawn’s “lucky knee” for the win.
MacFawn himself? He credited solid training and a little bit of confidence.
MacFawn won in 4 minutes, 19.93 seconds. Stein was second in 4:21.42 and Wilson slipped to third in 4:21.52. Smithsburg teammate Joey Barvir was fourth in 4:27.97.
On MacFawn’s Facebook page, friends and fellow students of the blue-and-white clad Camper were hoping to take advantage of MacFawn’s victory.
One friend hoped to get out of an upcoming trigonometry test. Another wanted to know MacFawn’s secret. And yet another credited MacFawn’s “lucky knee” for the win.
MacFawn himself? He credited solid training and a little bit of confidence.
“I didn’t feel any pressure, really,” MacFawn told TriStateRunnur.com on Sunday, a day after the 17-year-old earned his first state title at the high school level. “I’m used to (pressure) situations … I don’t really get too nervous anymore.”
MacFawn said he figured on achieving a personal best - mission accomplished - but admitted he “didn’t know what would happen” once the gun went off.
He couldn’t have anticipated a better ending. Or did he?
“I’d say the chances are pretty much 50-50 in the mile, at least,” MacFawn said of the odds going into the event.
Coming down the stretch, MacFawn was his usual stoic self - no signs of strain. But just because fans couldn’t see it, the level of effort had increased.
“People always say that” he makes the sport look effortless. “I definitely feel different on the inside. My stride is the same and my form is the same throughout the race. I don’t know. The way I see it, even in my face … I don’t want to move any more muscles than I have to.”
And to celebrate? MacFawn said he and his family went shopping at Banana Republic for a new pair of khakis.
“Well, I guess it took a while (to sink in) after the race,” said MacFawn, a two-sport star with Allegany, one of two city schools in Cumberland. “I just had to recover a little bit. I don’t know … it’s still sinking in. I guess maybe I looked at the newspaper and my Allegany softball team won the state title as well. We were there together (on the sports page). That kind of hit me as being really cool.”
In the 3200 on Thursday, MacFawn also finished faster than the previous 1A record and took second overall behind Wilson. Wilson won in 9:25.14, lowering the course record from 9:32.48. MacFawn clocked a 9:31.45.
Did you see Ian’s title-winning performance? Email TSR at wmdrunning@comcast.net <mailto:run@marathonclub.org> and tell us what you thought during the race - did you believe Wilson had the win in the bag? Were you rooting for Ian all along? Whether you bleed Camper blue or love the sport of track and field in general, write and share your experience!
<http://www.flotrack.org/videos/coverage/view_video/236112/336931>
MacFawn takes spotlight, title from Wilson
Allegany junior’s 1,600-meter win puts the Camper center stage
Allegany junior’s 1,600-meter win puts the Camper center stage